College Station unveils $576.35 million FY27 budget; council sets July 23 public hearing

Marielle Leonard, director of fiscal services for the City of College Station, presented a proposed FY2027 annual budget of $576,346,943 at a July 6 special council meeting and the council voted to call a public hearing on the proposal for July 23 at 6 p.m.

The proposed total represents a 21.53% increase from the prior year, mostly driven by a near-116% jump in the capital budget to $181.6 million while operating spending rises about 1.2%. "The FY27 proposed budget is 576,346,943," Leonard said, and staff described the plan as a five-year roadmap focused on public safety, infrastructure and a competitive workforce.

Why it matters: the budget frames what the city will prioritize and how those priorities affect taxes, services and future projects. Leonard said the proposal assumes an estimated $51.2 million in property-tax levy for city operations and a modest 2% nominal growth in sales-tax revenue. She noted that the city received updated valuations from the Brazos Central Appraisal District in April and that litigation and state-law changes have reduced some existing values; after those adjustments the city’s total valuation rose modestly.

Key elements: the proposal funds recurring pay increases (a 3% across-the-board raise and a 1% market adjustment for non-step employees) while keeping employee health-care premiums flat for a seventh year. The budget adds public-safety capacity, including six new police officers with vehicles plus two additional officers, a volunteer coordinator and a forensic evidence technician. Public works would gain four positions for street maintenance, concrete work and ADA compliance; engineering, irrigation and support staff increases are also included.

On one-time purchases, staff requested roughly $2.5 million in the general fund for items such as document-management and identity-management software, building maintenance and a flood-study/FEMA map revision. Enterprise funds include equipment and staffing for drainage, Northgate resurfacing and signage, electric AMI work and water meter replacements. "The amount of appropriations in this budget is 181,597,000," Leonard said, adding that $169.4 million reflects council-prioritized capital items from January.

Water fund and debt timing: Leonard said the council previously directed drilling three water wells and staff expects to issue about $37 million in debt this summer to fund that work. She said the sale is expected in August and that the first debt payment would be due in February 2027, but staff does not plan to raise water rates immediately. "We do not believe that we need to increase the water rates right now," Leonard said, though she warned rates may need to rise in FY28 or FY29 depending on rainfall and usage.

Process and next steps: a prepared video and staff materials outline the review timeline. City budget workshops are scheduled July 13–15, the council will hold a public hearing on July 23 at 6 p.m., and the council plans final tax-rate and budget adoption on August 27; the new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

Council action: a council member moved to call the public hearing on the FY2026–27 proposed budget for Thursday, July 23, 2026 at 6 p.m. in council chambers; Mr. Smith seconded. No members of the public had signed up to speak on the item and the motion carried unanimously.

The presentation and the hearing date establish the formal public review schedule; council members will examine the document in detail at scheduled workshops before any final vote.